THE FOUNDERS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL METHODIST CHURCH by Rolfe Hunt

The below information is located on Family Search, plus a complete family history is
included in the "Family Histories of Monroe County, Georgia", Compiled by Monroe County Historical Society, Forsyth, Georgia.
:
His Father : William FAMBROUGH, Bn. Abt. 1762, Halifax Co., VA.
Died: Bef. Mar 8, 1937, Monroe Co., Ga.
Buried: 12 Jan 1837
Married 6 Nov. 1787 by Christopher Robertson, her father
Wife: Pheba Robertson, Bn. Abt. 1765, Cumberland Co., VA. Died: Ga.
Her father was Christopher Robertson, Mother; Sary (Agnes Sarah) Nichols

Children of William and Pheba:
Allen Gates Fambrough, Bn. Abt. 1800, Died Bef. 1860 Ga
Robertson Fambrough, Bn. Abt. 1789, Died 1864, Ga.
Keturah Fambrough, Bn. 1792
*** William Lovelace Fambrough, Bn. 27 May 1796, died.. 2 Sep. 1868, Monroe Co., GA
William Fambrough, the father, was son of Thomas Fambrough and Mary Anderson. Thomas Fambrough was born abt. 1727 in Virginia; died 1791 probably in Albemarle Va. . His mother was Mary Anderson, bn. 1725, Albemarle Co., VA.

REV. ABSOLOM OGLETREE
    We would like to present our readers with a picture of this great soul-winner, but there is none extant. Brother J. G. Phinazee described him as a little stout, weighing about one hundred and eighty pounds, with hair and eyes black, nose prominent and a little aquiline, beard thin and a "countenance of which Nature had unmistakably stamped the seal of honesty. It was just such a face as those in trouble and distress were glad to meet, so full of human sympathy". His voice was manly and his appearance distinguished and winsome.
    Brother Ogletree was born in Wilks county, Georgia, in 1811. In the winter of 1844-45 his father moved to Monroe county. Brother Ogletree continued a residence of that county till his death July 21, 1861. His widow, Mrs. Matilda Ogletree, and the daughter who is the wife of brother C. G. Harper, still live at the old home from which he went so peacefully to Paradise that Sabbath morning when opposing armies were massing for battle on the field of Manassas.
    Brother Ogletree was a successful farmer, though he never craved or accumulated wealth. Too much of his time and means went for others for that. He realized that "the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof:" that we are not our own; that we are stewards of the manifold grace of god; and that the principal business of every saved man is to be a soul-winner.
    In early manhood he began his ministerial career as a local preacher in the M. E. Church, following the southern branch till the organization of Congregational Methodism in 1852. While a member of the Methodist Episcopal Churches he served them faithfully and uncomplainingly; but by practical experience he more and more realized the disadvantages under which a local preacher labored under the Episcopal system. This led him to study church governments carefully and to consider apostolic principles and practices. The conviction grew that the Episcopacy was not thoroughly in accord with the New Testament principles and practices and that it interfered with the free moral agency both of preachers and laymen and often hindered and grieved the Holy Spirit. becoming thoroughly convinced that another organization was needed, he had the courage of his convictions and the manliness to put them into practical and immediate operation. Brother J. G. Phinazee declared that it is probable that the C. M. Church would never have existed but for brother Ogletree. He also said that brother Ogletree's strength, patience, kindness, tact, great prudence, determination, experience and knowledge of church government gave him great weight in the separation from the old church and formation of the new one. "He was so careful that he made but few mistakes. He served the Church with a zeal and courage that never faltered and lived to see it spread to other states and died no doubt assured of its ultimate triumph."
    Though a social and genial man endowed with wit, he never jested or told anecdotes in the pulpit. So impressed was he with the solemnity and sacredness and responsibility of the preacher's mission that when he arose to preach his first sermon, he trembled from head to foot and in a few moments fell as if dead in the pulpit. The congregation was greatly alarmed. After he was resuscitated, solicitous friends insisted upon taking him quietly home; but no, he must be about his Father's business. Pale as a corpse, the reentered the pulpit and with the intense earnestness of a messenger from the grave he thundered the truths of the Gospel till God honored his labor and men, women and children wept and trembled and repented and shouted.
    Brother Phinazee said: "The essential characteristics of his sermons were strong common sense, earnestness, sincerity and faith, and the work was always well done. * * *
    The first time I heard him preach, when I was quite a youth, was from Matthew 3:12: Whose fan is in my hand, etc. Looking at him and hearing him my youthful mind was impressed with the realities of his theme * * * With but little knowledge of the rules of rhetoric or the laws of logic, this unpretending man when thoroughly aroused could lash the very deep to a storm. I have had the pleasure of hering some trained orators, both pulpit and forensic, and my opinion is that when all his latent energies and powers were called into active exercise he had but few superiors. It is recollected that on one occasion at camp meeting at Rehoboth in 1847 in and exhortation he became enthused and breathing inspiration, with appeal after appeal the most powerful, reaching his peroration he quoted Rev. 19:6 with such tremendous emphasis that the whole arbor seemed full of the sound of his voice. It was perhaps the greatest display of pulpit oratory ever witnessed at that consecrated plat of ground."
    Yet he never attempted display or thought of being eloquent. He had the power which the mere logician, or rhetorician fearfully lacks. He was full of faith and the Holy Ghost.
    No wonder that years after this godly man's peaceful and triumphant death, some holy women, being reminded of his sacred triumphs and the glorious meetings he had conducted by seeing one of his old coats, were filled afresh with the Spirit and began to shout. Even dead men arose from the grave at touch of Elijah's bones.
    May God give us a host of preachers in the C. M. Church whose very garments will preach when death has stilled the tongue.
(End of quote)>
(The following comments are NOT part of the above article: Absalom Ogletree is buried at Mt. Vernon Congregational Methodist near Russellville, Ga.
I am not certain the below is correct because the above article says his father moved to Monroe County from Wilkes county. The below
information was taken from Family Search which states his father was William and he died in Wilkes Co. Ga. I am including the info anyway
but it should be verified.
He was born Feb. 15, 1811, Monroe Co., GA., Died July 21, 1861, Monroe Co., GA.
Son of William Ogletree and Mary (Molly) Bird.
        William was bn. 18 Jan 1765, Dinwiddie, Va., Died 29 Jul 1835, Wilkes, Ga.
        William was son of John Ogletree, Sr., and Ann Duncan. John was born 1735-1740 Hanover Cty. Va., Died Aug 7, 1822, Wilkes, Co. Ga.
       John married Ann Duncan(d/o Miles Duncan, Sr.), 1759 in Virginia
        John's second wife was Piety Phillips, mar. 1791, Wilkes, Ga.
Absalom Ogletree Married Mathilda Stewart,(Bn. 1814- Died 1910) 1830 (She was daughter of Thomas Stewart and Nancy Jane Russel)

Children were: Mary Jane, Bn. about 1830
                        William T., Bn. Abt. 1834
                        James M. Bn. Abt. 1838
                        John F. Bn. Abt. 1840
                        Sarah F. Bn. Abt. 1842
                        Absalom Hardy , Bn. Abt. 1844
                        Robert David, Abt. 1846
                        Philemon R., Bn. July 7, 1836
The following are buried in Monroe Co.
                                                                                            Born                  Died
Forsyth City Cemetery OGLETREE DAVID JUL. 10, 1809 JAN. 5, 1876
Forsyth City Cemetery OGLETREE PHILEMON F. NO DATE NO DATE CO. A, 14 TA INF. C. S. A.
Forsyth City Cemetery OGLETREE WM. D. SEPT. 28, 1847 AUG. 23, 1853 S/O D & F H OGLETREE
Ogletree Cemetery Ogletree John B.             Jan. 9, 1873, 75 years of age.
Ogletree William,                 Georgia Mil. Revolutionary War.
Ogletree Elizabeth Greer Feb 24, 1802, Mar. 24, 1872 dau. Thomas A. E. Greer and wife John B
Ogletree Little Absolem,             aged 6 years, 1868.
Ogletree Rev. Absolem Feb 11, 1811 July 21, 1861 age 50 years
Ogletree   Frances A. Goodrum,   Feb 19, 1826,     Dec. 10, 1898.

                                                                          REV. WILLIAM HARPER GRAHAM
        Rev. W. H. Graham, or "Uncle Billy" as we called him in the last years of his pilgrimage, was one of the twelve men who met
        at brother Merritt's in Monroe county, Georgia, in 1852, to inaugurate Congregational Methodism. He had not enjoyed the
        education advantages of some, but was a man of good natural endowments - what brother Andrew Walker characterized "a diamond in the rough".
        He was unmistakably converted at old Rehoboth Campground at an early age and was thereafter eminent for religious fervor and zeal. Many souls will rise up even unto the Judgment and call him blessed. Some of those who despised him because he was not learned and polished will see the day when they will be glad to exchange crowns with him.
    He rarely bade an unconverted person good-bye  without an affectionate word of admonition. He felt it one of the duties of friendship to be candid and faithful where he discovered hurtful faults.
    in 1892 Uncle Billy pointed out to me, near Unionville, a farm he lived upon as a renter years ago when his children were young and dependent. Said he: "Rolfe, there is where we lived. My wife was an invalid and all that year she lay abed. Every morning, I would rise early, cook breakfast, wash dishes, dress the children, wait on wife, fed the stock, sweep the house, then, leaving something in reach of wife and the children for dinner, I would make my way to the field with my dinner bucket on my arm. All day long I would toil for our bread, trusting the sick wife and the little children to God. When the sun was down, I would go to the house, milk the cows, feed the cattle, cut wood, cook supper, wash the dishes, attend the wife, put the children to bed, and when the moon shone do jobs around the place for awhile after all were asleep." Tears came into the old man's eyes, through which a supernal light shone, as he added: "Yet, Rolfe, in some respects, that was the happiest year of my life. I trusted all to God and he blessed me. Right down there stood a little pine that I passed every morning. Under it I would set my little dinner bucket while I knelt and prayed. Every evening I would go home singing.
    "How happy is the pilgrim's lot:
    How free from every anxious thought:
    From worldly hope and fear !
    His soul disclaims on earth to dwell,
    He only sojourns here.
*****************************************
    "No foot of land do I possess,
    No cottage in this wilderness
    A poor wayfaring man,
    I Lodge awhile in tents below;
    Or gladly wander to and fro,
    Till I my Canaan gain."

    When I visited Milner in 1892, I found "Uncle Billy" living here with his second wife, the other having gone to the Land of Health years before.
After meeting the people, I said: "Uncle Billy, there are a few Congregational Methodists here who are hold there membership in churches inconveniently remote and there are others who will be happier in the Congregational Methodist church. We can organize and build: we must do so. What do you say?" Said he: "I will donate the lot right close to my house in that grove and all that I ask is that you all name the church Graham's Chapel". The neighbors remember how Uncle Billy's heart entered into the work.
    But even before the band was organized, Uncle Billy was called from us. We called our little band together, organized, bought another lot, built upon it and the Lord has dwelt graciously with us at Graham's Chapel.
    From May 8-12, 1893, Uncle Billy was with us in General Conference at Unity Church, Floyd county, Georgia Being the oldest surviving minister of the church, he was called upon to preach the introductory sermon. He took for his text: "Cur4se ye Meroz; curse bitterly; for they came not up to the help of the Lord against the mighty." The venerableness of about seventy years, the glow of spirituality, and the unction of the Mighty One added to the emphasis, charms, and effectiveness of that effort. He was in exultant mood throughout the conference session, and went home with abiding ardor, faith and enthusiasm. In speaking on the conference grounds of the fast train "Nancy Hanks", " he remarked: "That train is going to kill somebody; they ought not to let it run so fast but; Nancy Hanks will never kill me; for I'll never ride on it!" But, alas, how little we know! On May 28th - barely three weeks after he uttered the words - both he and his aged wife were instantly killed by Nancy Hanks. Together they had worshipped at the Milner Baptist church that Sabbath morning. Uncle Billy had said he was trying to live every day just as if it were his last , and had led in prayer in most exalted mood. Together they had started home under separate umbrellas in the beating, blinding rain on the Central of Georgia railroad track. They had been warned that Nancy Hanks would soon be along, but Uncle Billy trusted to his watch which proved few minutes slow. Through the tempest the train dashed at sixty miles an hour and took the aged couple from life in the twinkling of an eye. For three weeks Uncle Billy had dwelt in the choicest heights of the Land of Beulah and had tabernacled on the transfigured mountains. From these heavenly places in Christ Jesus here on earth, he went, in company with his wife, with the speed of the redeemed, to the Paradisiacal glories to which our pilgrim feet are hastening.

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. TODD
    May 8, 1852, twelve noble men of Georgia, in face of opposition and in defiance of what the world might think of it or do about it, linked their names forever with the history of Congregational Methodism. One by one these honored founders have exchanged their weapons of warfare for crowns of victory, and have passed from sacrifice to reward.
    They lived nobly: they have died triumphantly. One yet remains in flesh and blood - the venerable George W. Todd, now in Mississippi.
    As were the other founders, brother Todd was an American of the Americans. His father, Joseph W. Todd, was born and reared in Wilkes county, Georgia, and his mother, Esther Parker Todd, was born and reared in Hancock County, of the same state. His parents were married in 1808, January 22nd, and it is said that theirs was the first marriage license issued in Sparta after the organization of the county of Hancock. The father was an honest, enterprising, persevering man of good morals, but belonged to no church. The mother was a devoted member of the M. E. Church she had four brothers, some of whom were M. E. preachers.
    George W., the subject of this sketch, was the eighth of his parents' eleven children. He was born near Forsyth, Monroe county, Georgia, March 20th 1824. He received such an English education as was provided in the country academy of his day. He was converted at Rehoboth Camp Ground in 1838, where several of the associate founders were born anew and were the little band of Congregational Methodists
first worshipped after their organization at brother Merritt's. Soon after conversion, he joined the M. E. Church at Forsyth. With the exception of a brief space when he held his letter on account of remote residence, he continued an acceptable member of that church until he became one of the twelve charter members of the Congregational Methodist church in 1852. He married Miss Mary Elizabeth Phinazee, of
Monroe County, December 21, 1847. She was a daughter of one of the most distinguished of the early C. M. leaders - the Rev. Hiram Phinazee.
    After some years he moved with her to Newton county, Mississippi. There in February 1854, she died, leaving two sons and five daughters. November 19, 1865, he married a daughter of another man who has been distinguished in Congregational Methodism, as well as elsewhere. The bride this time was Miss Virginia Carolina Jones, daughter of Hon. L. J. Jones, at that time of Paulding county, Miss. With her he still loves happily, this union having been blessed with three sons and two daughters.
    Brother Todd has spent his years in Georgia and Mississippi. Until he was eighteen years of age, he worked on his father's farm in Georgia, occasionally attending school. When eighteen he took charge of a school that had been tendered him, and he continued to teach in Monroe County until his widowed sister, Mrs. McMullan, needed his protection and assistance in Mississippi. Staying with her until she married a second time, he returned to Georgia, and taught twenty months at Chapel Hill Academy, near Mt. Zion church, Monroe county. Then he taught at Collier's two years, after which he bought a farm three miles east of Forsyth. The next four years he divided his time between farming and teaching at Jackson Academy and at Forsyth.
    It was in the winter of 1853 he moved to Mississippi, where he still lives. Since living in Mississippi he has taught some, but most of his lifetime has been devoted to farming. He has occupied several civil offices both in Georgia and in Mississippi. He has been the main instrument in founding two institutions of learning of local importance: Chapel Hill in 1859 and Hickory institute in 1889, the latter located at Hickory and having nearly 200 pupils. He has often been called upon to serve his church in official capacity.
    Along in the 'forties he was accustomed to hear the renowned Dr. Lovick Pierce preach and to read his views on church government. With others, broth Todd's views crystallized into Congregational Methodism, and he rode ten miles that notable Saturday, May 8, 1852 to cast his lot with the other eleven at Judge Merritt's. He says that Congregational Methodism has succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations and he believes we are on the eve of greater things than ever. Thinks if our church had never accomplished anything but its modification of the Methodist Episcopacy, great good would have been done. But in addition to that, Congregational Methodism has accomplished much for liberty and salvation through grace in our own ranks.
    Many a sinner has shouted out the first joys of the new birth at Congregational Methodist altars and many noble men and women have shouted their way out of our visible ranks to the invisible glory.
    Brother Todd, after reflection of fifty years in in the soberness of old age, testifies: "I do not believe that any of the original twelve had the idea of any emoluments of pecuniary gain or sinister motive whatever in the course
pursued, but actuated from purest motives, unprejudiced towards the old M. E. church or its brotherhood, they simply wanted ecclesiastical freedom as set forth in first preface of Discipline. The finger of God must have been in the hearts of most of these men, and it seems that the hand of providence has been shown all along these years in disseminating the principles of Congregational Methodism through many of these grand United States of America. "
    The first C. M. Church in Newton County, Miss., was organized in Brother Todd's house in March 1855, but the Rev. Henry T. Jones.
    Brother Todd thinks we should insist upon a higher standard for our ministry; insists that we educate our people up to a higher plain of duty in supporting preachers and institutions of the church.
    Brother Todd was once tall and slender, with raven black hair and dark eyes. He is still erect, is a little heavier than formerly, but his hair and beard are silvered for the bright world.
    He was elected Present of the General Conference in 1897, and reelected in 1901.

              JAMES MONROE FLEMING

      James Monroe Fleming was the son of James and Celia Fleming, who came to Georgia from North Carolina.
He was born in Monroe County, Georgia, February 29, 1828. At seven years of age he lost his father and from that time he was largely responsible for the support of his mother, brothers, and sisters. At this early age he was true to his charge and made it manifest that in him were the elements of success and the principles of a noble gentleman. February 2, 1865, he married Miss Narcissa A. Butler, who preceded him a few years to the eternal home Three sons and one daughter survive him, having entered the responsibilities of manhood and womanhood under circumstances most favorable to piety, success and usefulness.
    As a business man, brother Fleming was alert, energetic, punctual, systematic and reliable. He had superior judgment and he prospered in all his undertakings. As a gentleman, he was thoughtful, considerate and polite, discreet and dignified.
While never unnatural or stiff, yet there was something in his bearing and character that forbade insult and restrained evil. As a son and brother he was affectionate and dutiful. Few young men consecrate so fully and cheerfully as he did the first thirty-seven years of life to mother and brothers and sisters. As the head of a family, he was home-living, devoted and affectionate to an unusual degree; yet was firm and commanding. As a citizen, he was peaceable, quiet and law-abiding, not influencing his countrymen so much by seeking to lead as by recognizing the powers that be as of God, and throwing the whole of his heart, energy and influence, on the side of law and order. As a Christian, he was faithful, zealous, liberal, constant, consistent and useful. His faith was as pure and simple as a child's recognizing God in all things that concerned him.
He believed in a special providence, and he believed that this embraced the material realm, as well as the spiritual; the temporal as well as the eternal. He was characterized by a truly Scriptural liberality. He did much to aid the poor, and no one ever properly presented to him the needs of a helpful Christian enterprise or institution in vain. After the war,  in his unostentatious way  , he gave away, in various directions, more than $200.00 a year in the name of Christ. He was one of those who in 1852 founded the Congregational Methodist Church and he loved and supported the denomination to the day of his death. His membership was at Mt. Zion, about two miles from his residence. and the oldest church in the connection. We all knew brother Fleming would be at Mt. Zion on meeting day unless providentially hindered. We trusted him to do his part, and we were never disappointed.
    In all things, brother Fleming was regarded as conscientious, courteous, conservative and safe. He died at his home, surrounded by his children at 3:30 P> M., Sunday, August 18, 1895. with his business all arranged, his house in order, he felt death stealing over him, and instead of being alarmed, he quietly asked the pillow taken from under his head, and as he straightened out, he folded his hands on his breast, saying peacefully, "Now let me die." His dying joy at one time found expression in prolonged shouts of praise.

    Another of the men of faith who met at brother Merritt's that Memorable 8th of May to organize Congregational Methodism was Travis Ivey. Brother Ivey was a plain layman, who supported his large family of daughters by working as a mechanic. He was a modest, quiet man and made no effort at leadership in the important movement; but he was a man of integrity, whose word was always relied upon. He was a man of pure heart and clean hands, whose prayers were full of faith, fervor and power. Often he was called upon to lead the prayers at church, and so mightily did he wrestle some of those who were little children then remember his pleadings and praises yet and bless God for the memory.
    Much of the strength of Congregational Methodism is due to the prevailing prayers of plain men who, like brother Ivey, have become princes on their knees. May the church never be without such men.
(The following comments are NOT part of the above biography:
According to the 1860 Census, Monroe County, Ga., Travis Ivey (Ivy) was born in South Carolina. The following were listed in his household.
Ivey    Travise        50   M
Ivey    Sarena         45   F
Ivey    Eliza A        27   F
Ivey    Ann J          25   F
Ivey    James          19   M
Ivey    Julia          17   F
Ivey    Sarah          15   F
Ivey    Elizabeth      13   F
Ivey    Z T            10   M
Ivey    Fannie         6    F
Ivey    B F            2    M